Mount tray



Feb. 23, 1954 c, MITCHELL 2,669,774

MOUNT TRAY Filed 00;- 5, 1949 INVENTOR 5 l'. CHARLES R. MITCHELL Z 55 BY ME M Patented Feb. 23, 1954 MOUNT TRAY Charles R. Mitchell, Seneca Falls, N. Y., assignor to Sylvania Electric Products Inc., a corporation of Massachusetts Application October 5, 1949, Serial No. 119,642

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a tray for handling or storing small parts and more particularly to a tray which is adapted to securely hold a number of mount assemblies destined to be fabricated into electron discharge tubes for convenience in processin z, transferring and storing such mount assemblies.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a carrying tray for partial assemblages of electron discharge devices.

. Another object of the present invention is the provision of a tray as aforesaid which is simple to use and inexpensive to construct.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a tube mount tray which will hold a large number of mount assemblies for miniature electron discharge devices by contact with the header button of such devices leaving the mount itself free and open for performing such operations as may be required on the mount itself.

The foregoing objects and others which may appear from the following detailed description are accomplished in accordance with an aspect of the present invention by providing on a base structure a number of pairs of opposed channel members, such channels being adapted to receive and embrace the edge of the bottom header of a mount assembly for a miniature electron discharge de vice. Each pair of channels accommodates a column of such devices in a regular columnar array while the columns are arranged, adjacent one another, in an array over the entire tray. The channel members which receive the header button of the mounts are preferably closed at one end by a fixed stop which prevents the mounts from sliding out that end and at the other end by a readily displaceable stop bail. In loading the tray the bail is moved so as to open the ends of the opposed channels whereby the headers may be inserted between the channels. In storing or transporting the trays or for heat treating a tray full of mounts the open ends of the channels are closed by swinging the bail back up into position against the open ends of the channels.

The present invention will be more fully understoodby reference to the following detailed description which is accompanied by a drawing in which Figure 1 illustrates in a perspective view one embodiment of the present invention, while Figure 2 is a partial side elevation of the device of Figure l and Figure 3 is an end elevation of the device of Figure 1 and Figure 41s a partial perspective view of a modifled form of the invention.

The structure shown in Figure 1 includes a base member ID. The base member It}. may be constructed of four flat strips of metal l2, l4, l6 and I8, each having their ends mitered at an an le thus forming a sort of a picture frame arrangement with an open central area 20. The corners of the base frame I 0 are secured together by an le plates 22, screwed, riveted or otherwise secured firmly to the corners of the frame member where the mitered edges abut.

The electron tube mount assembly, as shown in Figure 2, includes the mount proper 24, which is supported on leads 26 passing through a wafer such as glass bottom header 28. The lower ends of leads 26 beneath the header 2e may serve as contact prongs for insertion into a conventional socket with which the tube when completed is adapted to be associated. The mount assembly is adapted to be inserted into a glass bulb having a top tubulation. The edge of the bulb is then fused to the edge of header 28 to form a hermetic seal to maintain a vacuum within the bulb. The mount assembly as shown in Figure 2, after being assembled, may require transporting to another location in the manufacturing plant or it may be required that it be stored for a considerable period of time before being used. Alternatively, washing operations may be required to remove oil and grease handling during fabrication or it may be required that the mounts be heat treated in an oven. Thus the frame Ill of the tray as so far described is provided with a number of channel members 313 which are spaced apart just far enough so that the header button 28 may be received between a pair of adjacent channels. While only a few channel members are shown in the figures in order to simplify the disclosure of the invention, it should be understood that the entire top surface of the tray is covered by an array of opposed channels whereby a large number of mounts is accommodated in a number of columns. The channels are spaced above the base member to far enough so that the portions of the lead in wires 26 below the header 28 clear the base member to. Where an exhaust tube is provided in the center of header 28, the spacing of channels 30 over base it should be sufiicient to clear the exhaust tubes.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 the channel members 30 which oppose each other to receive the button header 28 are each constructed of a pair of elongated. thin flat strips of metal 32, 34 separated apart by a washer 35 and supported the proper distance above the base plate I0 by a hollow spacer member 36. All these aforesaid members are fastened together by a long rivet or screw 33 passing through holes in each of the members and through a hole in the base member Hi. All of the channel members are closed at one end by an L-shaped stop member 38 having one leg of the L riveted or The header assemblies 25 may then be loaded into theracks through the other; open fend'of' the channels? When'the carrier or tray has received the desired number of mount assemblies 24, the open end of the channels, facing the viewer in Figure 1, are c osed by swinging-the flat bail member 40 upwardly from its position of rest on the base member I01 pivotingabout'th'epins in hinge members 4i secured to=the baseplate l until the horizontal portion of the bail 40 snaps under and is latchedlunder the springg clips 42.

A somewhat simplified and more inexpensive form of the invention is shown in Figure 4. In this figure the 'base "plate 50 is 'a thin sheet of metal formed into a sha'llow inverted tray. by the dependingflanges 5| extendingaround thefiat portionof the-*pat'e fifl'. In'this' form, the chain he's-which receive the headers of thetube mount. a'ssembly'are formed of U shaped pieces of sheet meta-1&2." Each member 52 has the upperiedges of the U bent away from eachother and then back toward eacH'othe-rto-form smaller u -shaped channels 53 i and 5'4 facing each other across the top of the U'.- The edges of channels 53 and 5t are" spaced apart, just"as were' mem'bers 32- and 34of Fi'gurs 1, 2 and 3 so that- 'the'header mem ber ZB f-th'e'electron -tube mount assembly- 2c may-"be' receive'd' therein. Also,- as before; the

entire top of the base is' c'overed with" an array of hea'der' receiving channelsi' though only one I is shown forclarity. Each of the chann'els as in' 'th'e previous figures;- closed at one end by' an li-shaped'stcp member ss "and at'the' other by a sw'ihgable bail member 401 In this modificationa'-snap toggle action ass'uringthat the bail 40 rests in eitherfls=upper "or lower positions is pro- Figure 4; securely against the-base plate ure shown'a's though it were balanced in the deadcenter position in" whicli spri'ng 5'8 has-*no effect in turning it on'e wayor'the-other;

Since the 1 tra'ymay have to" resist con'siderable he'at' during baking operations or strong cleaning solutions; it' is preferred that the entire traybe fabricated 'from'a highly"resistant metal'such as stainless steel. For convenience in loading and unloading-said tray from-baking ovens-and so forth; a hole fill' ma'ybe providedin thebase plate to' receive' a" handling hook.

While I have shown and. particularly describeds'everal modifications ofthe present invention, it sh'ould be distinctly understoo'd that my in'vention is'not limited thereto butthat modifications and alterationswithin the scope of the'invention maybem'a'de.

What I claim is:

I 1. An" electron tube mount trayincluding' asubstantially fiat base member and anumber of" mount assembly' receiving racks parallel t y'sa d base member and arrayed across the base member, each of said racks including a pair of flanged channel devices with the lowermost flanges of the channel i'devices above therlevel of 'theebase member with an unobstructed space th'erebetween extending to the base level and spaced apart and having the open sides of said channels facing each otherto receive and embrace the edges of a disc like member associated with said mounts whereby pins=of said mountsi-may extend into said space,

azstopyjmemberclosing all of said racks at one end'and'a'single bail member pivoted on said base-memberiandr'adapted to be swung into alignmentwithall of the channels in said racks at the other'en'dsof the channels whereby said disc like members are retained in-said channels.

2T An' electron: tube mount: tray including; a substantially flat base *memb erand 'a numbezrrofl mount: assembly receivingrracks. parallel? to said base member and arrayed across the baseememei bergeach of'sa'id :racksi including .axpair; of ichaneneI devices with: the lowermost; flanges: ofzjthe channel devices above the-.levelvof the'base memz-i ber withi an unobstructed spacetherebetWeemextendingltottheibase leveland spaced apartia-nd" having the open sidest'rofssaidzchannels. facing-1 eachciothen to receive and :embrace'wtlie edges 10f. a. discttlike member: associated with said mounts; whereby pins of said mounts: may *extndointo said space; said 'racks zbeingclosedrattoneend;a single bail membez'. pivoted: on said: bases member :to: swing'along an axis parallel torsaid base-member. into "alignment with" all-.of the; channels: in? said: racksiat the others-ends'soft.thevchannels whereby," said disclikemembers tare retainedrin saidzchane nels-randmeansforclockingzisaid bail' against said. racks. I

3. Au mount traysvincludinga as base member carryingranarray. off-parallel; headerbutton-zree ceiving: channels parallel -tov and: spaced: above saidtbase :member; .said: channels..comprisinga'ai numbersofi U-shapedwmembers:having' their upper; edges formedintogroovesispacediaboverithe bate tomrof' the channel andwhaving their ropen sides opposing-:on'e: another across the' channel; the.

grooves being; adapted: to:- receivewandc embrace onlythe-rimrof'azdisc shaped-member, saidrchana nelsbeing closed'at one end, andabail pivotedtO. sa-i'dwbaseand adapted-to be swungintowalignment;

V With saidrchannels for closing theirrother' ends,

against saidwends on-against saidatabs.

CHARLESR'; MI'IZCHELIe.

References Cited. inthe file ofithisipatenti;

UNITED STA EES BA'I EN'IESL Number Name Date* 278161 McKee May-'22; 1883 9291045" Stewart July 27,1909" 1",080',2'75 Gilbert" Dec; 2, 19-13"- 1',365,-9W5" F'olmer Jan. 1'921' 1,410,410 Schulz Mar. 21; 1922 126051188 Hubbard Nov. 2; 1926 1995,13!) Read Mar: 19', 1935 2,057,946 Harris Oct. 20; 1936 2,236,876 Jablon Apra l; 1941' 2264 161 Hammer Nov; 25; 1941 2,294,021 Brown Aug. 25;- 1942 2,322,368 Eacey June=223 1943 $421,956 McComb Jime l-fii 194.! 

